Cluster of differentiation 44- and octamer-binding transcription factor-4-positive stem-like osteosarcoma cells involved in tumor development.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive primary bone cancer that usually affects children and young adolescents. Previous studies have demonstrated the implications of a small sub-population of cancer stem cells on treatment failure and tumor recurrence. The present study analyzed the characteristic features of the stem-like cells within the human OS-55 cell line. It was identified that 2.3% of the OS-55 cells were cancer stem-like side population (SP) cells. Following treatment with verapamil, the population of SP cells was reduced to 0.7%. The sphere formation assay revealed that the OS cells were able to rapidly form tumor spheres (also known as sarcospheres). Immunofluorescence analysis identified that the OS-55 cells expressed the cluster of differentiation 44, octamer-binding transcription factor-3/4A and Nanog stem cell surface markers. The results of the present study suggest that, as with other tumors, OS also contains a sub-population of cancer stem-like cells, which may have important implications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and functional outcome among postmenopausal women with hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the current study was to assess the distribution and its prognostic value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) levels assessed at admission in Chinese postmenopausal women with hip fracture. METHODS: From January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013, all postmenopausal women with first-ever hip fracture were recruited to participate in the study. Serum 25[OH] D levels were measured at admission. The functional evaluation at the time of discharge was performed by the Barthel Index (BI). The prognostic value of 25[OH] D to predict the functional outcome within discharge was analyzed by logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for the possible confounders. RESULTS: In our study, 261 patients were included and assessed. In the 76 patients with an unfavorable functional outcome, serum 25(OH) D levels were lower compared with those in patients with a favorable outcome [11.8(IQR, 9.9-16.1) ng/ml; 16.8(IQR, 13.6-21.4) ng/ml, respectively; P<0.0001]. In multivariate analysis, there was an increased risk of unfavorable outcome associated with serum 25(OH) D levels ≤ 20 ng/ml (OR 5.24, 95%CI: 3.11-8.15; P<0.0001) after adjusting for possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support an association between serum 25[OH] D levels and prognosis in Chinese postmenopausal women with hip fracture.

[Relationship between apnea and hyperbilirubinemia in premature infants].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between hyperbilirubinemia and apnea in premature infants. METHODS: Premature infants with apnea and birth weight >1500 g were tested for the heart rate, serum level of bilirubin, saturation of blood oxygen (SO2) and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) before and after treatment, with term infants serving as the control. A comparative analyses of the serum level of bilirubin, SO2 and PO2 were carried out in the premature infants with birth weight <1500 g suffering apneic syndrome or not on the first and third days after birth. RESULTS: Of the premature and term infants with apnea and birth weight <1500 g, 92.5% and 70.00% showed increased serum level of indirect bilirubin (IBIL), respectively. The infants with birth weight <1500 g who presented the syndrome of apnea on the first day after birth had significantly higher levels of IBIL than those without an apparent syndrome of apnea. A three-day conventional therapy resulted in an obvious improvement of apneic syndrome and lowered bilirubin level. CONCLUSION: Increased bilirubin level can be one of the reasons for the development of apnea in premature infants, and therapies for reducing bilirubin level can ameliorate the syndrome of apnea.

[Total alkaloid of Macleaya cordata: in vitro cytotoxic effect on Hep3B cells and in vivo antitumor effect in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the cytotoxic effects in vitro and antitumor effects in vivo of total alkaloid of Macleaya cordata. METHODS: MTT assay was used to assess the proliferation of Hep3B and H22 cells in vitro treated with the alkloid, and the inhibitory effects of the alkaloid on H22 and S180 tumors were observed in mice with subcutaneous inoculation of the tumor cells. RESULTS: The total alkaloid significantly inhibited the proliferation of human Hep3B cells and murine H22 cells in a dose-dependent in vitro. IC(50) of the alkloid in 3 repeated experiments was 3.04, 3.98 and 2.98 mug/ml respectively in Hep3B cells, and was 2.89, 2.21 and 2.34 mug/ml in H22 cells. In the tumor-bearing mice, the alkaloid inhibited the development of H22 tumor and prolonged the survival of S180 tumor-bearing mice. At the daily dose of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg.b.w (i.p.) and 4 mg/kg.b.w. (i.g.) for 10 days, the inhibition rates of the alkaloid on H22 tumor in 3 repeated experiments were 18.6%, 35.1%, 44.9% and 7.9% respectively, and the rates of survival prolongation of the tumor-bearing mice were 24.8%, 48.9%, and 52.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The alkloid possesses antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo.

[General pharmacology of Danhong injection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Danhong injection on the cardiovascular, the respiratory, and the nervous systems in animals. METHODS: Using the pressure transducer, tension transducer and subcutaneous electrodes connected to a multifunctional signal processor, the femoral artery pressure, respiratory curve and electrocardiogram were recorded, respectively, in dogs before and after administration of Danhong injection. The effect of the injection on spontaneous activities was observed in mice using a multifunctional mouse activity recorder. The effects were also observed on coordinated movements by recording tilt-board falling times of the mice and on hypnosis induced by subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium by observing the disappearance of righting reflex. RESULTS: Danhong injection caused slight decrease in systolic blood pressure without obviously affecting the heart rate, diastolic blood pressure and respiratory system of anesthetized dogs 30 min after intravenous Danhong injection at the dose of 2.4 g/kg, but at the doses of 1.2 and 0.6 g/kg.b.w, the injection did not produce any significant impact. The coordinated movement and spontaneous activity and pentobarbital sodium-induced hypnosis in mice were not obviously affected by the 3 doses of Danhong injection. CONCLUSION: Danhong injection does not affect the respiratory functions of the dogs and nervous system of mouse with the exception of the systolic pressure at the 3 doses.